In a pulls-no-punches essay intended to provoke rational discussion, Stephen King sets down his thoughts about gun violence in America. Anger and grief in the wake of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School are palpable in this urgent piece of writing, but no less remarkable are King's keen thoughtfulness and composure as he explores the contours of the gun-control issue and constructs his argument for what can and should be done.

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Publisher's Summary

In a pulls-no-punches essay intended to provoke rational discussion, Stephen King sets down his thoughts about gun violence in America. Anger and grief in the wake of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School are palpable in this urgent piece of writing, but no less remarkable are King's keen thoughtfulness and composure as he explores the contours of the gun-control issue and constructs his argument for what can and should be done.

King's earnings from the sale of this essay will go to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Stephen King is the author of 11/22/63, Under the Dome, Carrie, The Shining, and many other best-selling works.

"The overwhelming response from readers of the Kindle Single edition of Guns underscores the great need for thoughtful discourse on the issue of guns in America…I’m thrilled Audible is bringing Guns to the quickly growing audience of audiobook listeners." (Stephen King)

What the Critics Say

"There are a handful of subjects in America so emotional and polarizing that the national dialogue around them amounts to little more than a shouting match. Chief among these is the subject of guns. In this intimate and moving Kindle Single, Stephen King employs all his gifts as writer and citizen to address gun violence in America. But why should we care what Stephen King has to say? As it turns out, there are a number of reasons. Despite his "liberal creds," King is an unapologetic gun owner himself. He is also the author of a novel--published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman--that has served as a "possible accelerant" for at least four real-life high school shooters. King had his publisher take that book off the market long ago, but the guns and the occasional bursts of unfathomable violence remain. When division is everywhere, is it possible for someone to argue passionately for the middle road? That is what King seeks to do here--this is a frank and thoughtful contribution to a dialogue in dire need of voices from the 'all-but-deserted middle.'" (Chris Schluep, Amazon.com)

Putting in his own words what people have been trying to say about this debate for some time, as well as offering so of the same answers that seem to be the most reasonable one out there. Speaking as a gun owner brought up by in a family of them who father was in vet I have respect for them but I know what they are for and they are not for. They aren't toys that aren't tools they are for killing. when you Hunt you kill something, King reminds us what guns are for, and what we should be thinking about.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Guns?

"those who stand firmly, even hysterically, against any kind of control love their neighbors and their communities, but harbor a distrust of the federal government so deep it borders on paranoia (and in some case passes that border without so much as a howdy-do at the check point)" and "If Lanza had been reloading after shooting his way in, she migh have succeeeded. He was crazy, but he was also a scrawny wisp of a kid, the bushmaster was his equalizer, he had plenty of ammo left, so he shot and killed Hocksprung before she could get to him. I wish with all my heart that she had tackled him and beat that crazy little *beep* head bloody against the floor, and gotten a medal from the president on national tv. she was too brave to die the way she did"

Any additional comments?

This adds a voice to the debate that is well thought out and well done

Not what you would expect, given the source. It's actually the most balanced and reasonable argument I've heard amidst the current fervor. Direct, but not preachy. Definitely worth 45 minutes and whatever the token cost.

Christian Rummel reads this with the same passion King used to write it. While Mr. King's perspective as the author of Rage is interesting, and it is easy to understand his need to speak out, you are only going to like this if you already agree with him.

The fact that you can tell a person's political bent by the number of stars he gives this work is the saddest (and most telling) fact of all. In that aspect, Stephen King's stated goal of provoking a reasonable debate has failed. Not his fault, really, but that's "the way it shakes out".

I really enjoyed Stephen King's perspective on Guns in this essay. I'm not sure I agreed with it 100% but it wasn't presented in a way that made the reader feel like they must agree but rather presented a perspective and opinion that certainly was balanced with practicality. It's very easy to get emotional about this issue of Guns but unfortunately it's not an issue solution. I think this essay presents a constructive start to the dialog.

Everyone in this country needs to read or listen to this essay. Whether they agree or not, it's so full of information and reason that it forms a necessary jumping off point for debate and communal understanding.

Stephen King makes some excellent reasoned arguments for a way forward in the "gun control debate". In brief: controlling automatic weapons, only allowing public possession of 10 rounds, and background checks.

He also examines the mind set of some of the perpetrators - who had often been bullied, or else 'woke up' in disbelief and shock at what they were doing, and the book opens with a minute by minute account of a typical "event".

However, it's an angry essay, which descends at times into a rant of name calling. King openly discloses how some school shootings had copied details from his own published book "Rage", and while he claims to have no regrets over writing the book (which he withdrew from sale), I wondered if some guilt was fuelling his own rage at these atrocities.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

M

Wakefield, United Kingdom

3/29/13

Overall

"Guns, guns, guns ..."

As a European, I find it incomprehensible as to how the American public can justify allowing weapons to be a part of public life - but they do. Stephen King's take on the topic is honest and interesting. As a gun-owning liberal he manages to see beyond the hyperbole both sides of the battle hurl at each other, while grasping the reality of living in a society which is already drowning in more firearms than any army should ever need. An excellent and thought-provoking listen.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Paul

Planet Earth

7/28/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Almost a full-on rant"

This short audiobook is Stephen King's take on gun culture in the USA.

At times it almost seems like a rant but as you listen you realise that a lot of what he says just happens to be the truth.

The reading is very good and although a difficult (delicate) subject Mr. King handles it really well.

Add to that it's a snip of a price then what do you have to lose.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Liz

Norwich, United Kingdom

7/21/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Very interesting and surprisingly balanced"

King created a narrative of how he feels about guns, and how he feels about media and guns, and how these two interact in negative (or neutral, or complicated) ways. It was definitely worth the money, and the time. It's short, but I really felt he expressed some of the anti-gun (and pro-gun) arguments in such a way that I appreciated some of the complexity of America's gun culture, which as an outsider had previously looked incomprehensible.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

alex_holmes_367

4/11/13

Overall

"Fresh"

A fresh perspective on the subject of guns in the USA.

As ever this has been written with such craft that even an essay on this emotive subject simply captivates.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

R

Newtonhill, United Kingdom

4/10/13

Overall

"Understanding the dilemma"

It is easy for some of us in the UK to laugh at the madness of 'gun control' in the US, but the situation did not develop over night and King tries to provide some sober insight into the problem. He is a gun owner in a gun owning society that tends to see its constitution as giving them a right to have any weaponry they desire. The country has developed its own neighbourly arms' race! Here in the UK, we can be made afraid thinking about bad people with guns, but, on the whole, prefer to try to remove their guns. In the US, they have bad people with guns AND good people with guns, and like the pigs and humans in 'Animal Farm', it is getting impossible to tell the two apart. King argues for a slow and steady retreat. Good luck to him.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

SDY

Australia

4/10/13

Overall

"Worth a listen"

Not that anyone outside America would need convincing that guns kill people, but this piece is still worth a listen. With his approachable, easy style, King makes a few interesting points about the 'culture of violence' the media loves to talk about, and stands behind what president Obama is trying to achieve, without sounding unreasonable (although again- to people who live in countries with decent gun control, the propositions made in the US on how to curb gun violence might seem very mild). A great short listen.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Steve

Crowborough, United Kingdom

4/7/13

Overall

"An honest essay"

Stephen King uses the full strength of his mastery of the English language, and his surprisingly extensive knowledge of all facets of the gun control debate , to give a very honest overview of the real issues facing governments and policy makers regarding guns. What King has to say about guns is probably not what you think.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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